Roll Up! Philip Khoury’s Recipe For Pistachio Yule Log | The Sweet Spot

I emotion a yule log, besides known arsenic a bûche de Noël. It’s a remnant from nan clip erstwhile Lebanon was a French colony, which lingers to nan modern day, and is celebrated successful Lebanese bakeries and patisseries complete nan Christmas period, often dressed up pinch mini figurines, integrative holly leaves and festive messages. Those decorations, and nan trompe-l’oeil quality of this treat, enchanted maine arsenic a child, and I wanted to bring backmost immoderate of that enchantment pinch this return connected a woodland yule log.

Pistachio yule log

Prep 10 min
Cook 3 hr 15 min
Chill 7 hr
Serves 8–10

To decorate
350g amarena cherries, aliases tinned cherries successful syrup
1 sprig dill
Icing sugar, for dusting

For nan mousse, power 90ml beverage successful a saucepan connected a mean power until it reaches a gentle simmer. Meanwhile, put nan cocoa successful a heatproof bowl, move successful nan basking beverage and blend pinch a handheld blender until wholly smooth.

Add nan 100ml chilled beverage and blend again until nan mousse is glossy and smooth, pinch nary visible streaks. If streaks appear, blend further, scraping down nan sides to guarantee a due emulsion. Pour it into a shallow dish, spot a expanse of clingfilm connected nan aboveground to forestall a tegument forming, past refrigerate for astatine slightest 2 hours.

Once chilled, transportation to nan chilled vessel of a guidelines mixer fitted pinch a whisk. Whip until ray and fluffy pinch unchangeable peaks (chilling nan vessel earlier whipping helps velocity up nan process), past refrigerate until needed.

For nan ganache, harvester 100ml beverage and nan sweetener successful a saucepan connected a mean power and power until conscionable simmering. Meanwhile, put nan cocoa successful a heatproof bowl. Pour nan basking beverage complete nan cocoa and blend pinch a handheld blender until wholly smooth.

Add nan chilled beverage and blend again until wholly emulsified. Pour it into a shallow dish, laic a expanse of clingfilm connected nan aboveground to forestall a tegument forming, past refrigerate for astatine slightest 4 hours.

Next, make nan pistachio praline. Heat nan oven to 190C (170C fan)375F/gas 5. Spread nan pistachios connected a baking tray, lightly roast for 8 minutes, past region and time off to cool completely.

Pulse nan roasted pistachios, icing sweetener and brackish successful a nutrient processor aliases high-powered blender – they’ll move into a good powder and past a heavy paste arsenic nan oils from nan nuts are released. Stop blending and scrape down nan sides whenever nan paste starts catching. Continue blending until wholly smooth, past group speech until needed. Any leftover praline tin beryllium stored successful a sealed jar astatine room somesthesia for up to 2 weeks.

For nan aquafaba meringue mushrooms, power nan oven to 100C/210F/gas very debased and statement a baking tray pinch baking paper. For nan meringues, it is champion to usage nan fixed oven mounting alternatively than fan. Pour nan aquafaba into a guidelines mixer fitted pinch nan whisk attachment and hit to soft peaks. Add nan pick of tartar and whisk again, past proceed whisking while gradually adding nan sugar. Beat until nan meringue forms stiff, glossy peaks.

Transfer nan meringue substance to a piping bag, past tube mini domes for nan mushroom caps and bladed cylinders for nan stems connected to nan lined tray. Dust nan caps lightly pinch cocoa powder. Bake for an hour, past move disconnected nan oven and time off nan meringues to cool wrong pinch nan doorway somewhat ajar.

Once cooled, connect nan stems to nan caps by dipping nan apical of nan stem successful a small melted acheronian cocoa and attaching it to nan top. Leave to set.

For nan pistachio sponge, power nan oven to 170C (150C fan)/340F/gas 3½. Spread nan pistachios connected a baking tray, lightly roast for 15 minutes, past region and time off to cool completely.

Turn up nan oven to 240C (220C fan)/475F/gas 9. Spray a ample baking expanse pinch oil, past statement pinch baking paper. Blend nan pistachios, flour, sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and brackish successful a nutrient processor until finely ground, past transportation to a ample bowl.

Warm nan soya beverage successful a saucepan until it reaches 40C (104F) connected a thermometer. Whisk together nan lukewarm soya milk, vanilla extract and vinegar successful a bowl. Pour nan bedewed ingredients complete nan barren ingredients and whisk until conscionable combined. Spread nan batter evenly complete nan lined baking expanse and cook for six minutes – nan sponge should outpouring backmost erstwhile lightly touched. Remove from nan oven and instantly spot a expanse of baking insubstantial connected top, weighing it down pinch a crockery towel to support it elastic for rolling.

To assemble, flip nan sponge complete and mildly peel distant nan baking paper. Put connected a cleanable expanse of baking paper. Spread 150g of nan pistachio praline evenly complete nan sponge, leaving a 1cm separator each astir nan edge. Spread a bladed furniture of cocoa chantilly mousse complete nan praline, past put nan drained cherries successful 2 rows on nan agelong edge.

Using nan insubstantial to thief you, rotation nan sponge into a tight log, keeping hostility arsenic you go. Secure pinch much insubstantial and chill successful nan refrigerator for an hour.

Once chilled, trim 1 extremity diagonally, trim disconnected a 3rd of nan log astatine a 45-degree angle, past reattach some pieces to look for illustration branches. Spread nan cocoa ganache successful streaks complete nan log to mimic bark. Dust pinch icing sugar, past decorate pinch glacé cherries, dill fronds and meringue mushrooms. Refrigerate for up to 2 days. Leave to beryllium astatine room somesthesia for 20 minutes earlier serving.

• This is an edited extract from Beyond Baking, by Philip Khoury, published by Quadrille astatine £30. To bid a transcript for £27, spell to guardianbookshop.com